Mahama can be impeached over DA vacuum if… – MP

President John Dramani Mahama can be impeached if he allows a vacuum to be created at the various MMDAs after the expiration of the tenure of current assembly members on Friday, March 13.

That’s according to NPP Member of Parliament for Manhyia, Mathew Opoku Prempeh. In order to avoid this, the vociferous legislator is advising the President to liaise with the leadership of Parliament over the vacuum likely to be created in the country’s local governance set up.

According to the MP, there will be no constituted district assemblies and unit committees after the expiry of the tenure of the current members due to the cancellation of the March 3 elections.

Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who represents the Manhyia South Constituency in Parliament, told TV3 on Tuesday March 10, that President Mahama must swiftly take steps to fill the impending void.

The MP was speaking to TV3 after Parliament met with officials of the Electoral Commission led by its Chairman over the botched elections and the way forward.

Chairman of the EC Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan refused to speak to the media as most of the MPs were tight-lipped about the outcome of the meeting held behind closed doors.

However, TV3 sources say the meeting was murky and inconclusive. A committee has thus been set up to probe the issues and report back on Thursday March 12, as the EC prepares a new legislation to restart the electoral process.

“By Friday, the assemblies stand dissolved so we have to know government’s intention in the interim. The assemblies including the district chief executives cease to be in office from Friday. So, the president should be liaising with Parliament to find a way ahead.

“President John Mahama should tell us and discuss with the leadership of Parliament the structure he intends to put in place now that the assemblies will be dissolved including his own district chief executives. If the President sits for that void to be created, people can impeach him on that,” he noted.

The elections were cancelled after a disgruntled aspirant, Benjamin Eyi Mensah, secured a favourable Supreme Court ruling. Reports reaching tv3network.com indicate that the Electoral Commission may hold the elections in July.

Already, Vice President Amissah-Arthur has asked the Attorney General’s Department to extend the mandate of the outgoing assembly members in order to fill the vacuum.

But local governance analysts have warned that extending the tenure will be unconstitutional. They have rather asked Government to appoint a management team to avoid a breakdown of operations at the various assemblies.